Machine for stamping and sealing mail-matter.



l No. 884,837. PATENTED APR. I4, 1908.

E. C. MORRIS & L. .L HALL.

MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.19, 1898. RENEWBD JAN. 16, 1903.

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No. 884,837. PATLNTLD APR. 1A, 1908.

L. 0. MQLRIS .L L. J. HALL. l MACHINE FOR STAMPLNG AND SLALING MALL MATTER,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.19. 1898. RENEWED JAN. 16.1903.

Ye Tor@ dwond .warrig )vab PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. RIG. MORRIS n L. J. HALL.

MACHINE FOR'STAMPING AND -SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLIOATION FILED sBPT.18, 1898. BBNEWED JAN. 16. 1908.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I pw' HMI" 'www ii. m1,. ummm @AIL I wmd @Wolfma- JMW? No. 884,837. PATENTED APR. I4, 1988.v E. C. MORRIS a L. J. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT.19, 1898. RENEWED JAN. 16.19.03.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

- PATIINTLD APR. IA, 1908. E. o. MORRIS & L. I. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1898. BENB'WED JAN. 16, 1903.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

mw I Y I www M AMANA, @0&0 wm www Y m No'. 884,837.. RATRNTRD APR. 1A, 1908.

. R. 0. MORRIS L L. J. HALL.

MACHINE PoR STAMPING AND SRALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLIUAII-ON FILED SEPT. 19, 1898. RENBWED JAN. 16. 11903.

1l SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. E. C. MDRRIS & L. J'. HALL. MACHINE FOR. STAMPING AND SBALING MAIL MATTER.

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APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1898. 'BBNEWBD JAN.'16. 1903.

No. 884,837. PATEN'I'ED APR. 14, 1908. E. G. MORRIS & L. J.HALL. MACHINE POR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1898. BBNEWED JAN. 16. 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

No. 884,337. PATENTED APR. 14, 1908. E. C. MORRIS c L. I. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Edward @3mm/vis.

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APPLICATION PILED'SBPT. v19. 1898. BBNEWBD JAN.16. 190s.

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180.884,88?. PATRNTRD APR. 14, 1908. R. o. MORRIS R L. J. HALL. VMACHINE PoR STAMPING AND SHARING. MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1898. RBNBWED JAN. 16. 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

I MARV #MRW ow 0 9 1|.- A, 1 R. m P T m M N H E A T M AL PLG Am HL .A J.E .wm SA I RG RN mn .M GA -T BS R 0 F E N I H w 7 W., M .4. 8 .8 m N APPLICATION FILED SEPTJQ, 1898. BBNEWBD JAN. 16. 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET l1.

To all whom it mag/concern.

derstoo tion when read 1n connection with the accom- Matter, of which .the f tion. l

-This invention relates to improvements in machines for stamping and sealing mail UNITED sTATEs v PATENT oFFicE.

l iai'iwiiian c. Monais AND Loiiis J. HALL, or CHICAGO, iLLI'oIsfs'AiD HALL Assicivon To,

SAID MORRIS.

' Fon sTAMPrNG AND sEALINc-f MAIL-MATTER..

Specification of Letters Patent -PaternalApril 14, 1908'.

Applieationled September 19, 1898, Serial No. 691,321. Renewed january 16, 1908. Serial No. 189,863. i

Be it known that we, EDWARD "0. MORRIS and LOUIS J. HALL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedl certain new and usefull Improvements in Machines for lSrtarnpinlg and Sealing Mail-A o owing is a specificamatter and for other similar purposes, and is a further development of the invention set forth in ou-r previous application numbered 653,832, filed October 2, 1897..

Theinvention consists in the matters here- A inafter set forth and particularlly pointed out in the appended claims, and wi e fully unfrom the following detailed descrippanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view' of a machine embod ing our improvements in one form,

the ta le of thestamp carriage being removed to better show the parts beneath it.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, with the envelop supply magazine removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe machine. Fi 4 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a si e -elevation opposite to that shown-in Fig. 3.`

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation lookin in the same direction as Fig. 5, but taken on line 6`6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 isa plan view partly in section of the ba'se plate 'of the mam frame and the arts beneath it, Athe u per works of the machine bein omitted. 1g.. 8 is an en'- larged sectional etail of the vacuum separator and of the devices for moistening the faces and flaps of the envelops. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on line 9 of Fig., 8.

Fig. 10 is a similar view taken on line 10 ofA Fig. 8. Fig. 11l is a top lan detail of the reciprocating Acam plate W ichY gives motion to Fi 12 is a rspecate and jawsfor transferring the envelops ii on line 13 of Fig. Fig. 14 lis a sectional detail of the tripping mechanism for releasing the carrier jaws to permit them to'cl'amp the' om thel magazine v, to thestacker. Fig. 1 3 is a detail section taken1 Fig. 15 is a bottom plan detail of the detail. of the lvacuum pump. 17 is a detail in side elevation, with parts m section, of

thereof on line A-A of Fig. 19. Fig. 20 is a erspective detail of the moistener 'for the ces of the envelops. Fig. 21 is a sectional detail of the perforated block'throug'h which .Water is sup lied to the moistener.

Fig. 22

is avsectiona detail taken on line 22-22-01:

Fig. 20, assuming the moistener arm to -b'e in its retracted osition.- Fiv. 23 is a detail ol the adjustablye guide in ma azine. Fig. 24 is a sectional detail taken on ine 24-24 of Fig. 23; Fi 25 is a sectional detail of the position in icator for the carriage taken on line'25 of Fig. 1z Fi 26 is a sectional detail 'of the direction in icator for the carriage taken online 26 of Fig. 1.

In the operation 'of our improved machine it is contem lated that envelops to 'be sealed l andstampe will be sup liedin uantitiesto a magazine from which t ey will e delivered one by one to a `carrier that will transfer them 1n succession past suitable-moistening, sealing and stain afliXing livered in quantities, as su plied, but with flaps securelyT` sealed an with `postage i l l stamps properly affixed to their faces. Accordingly, in addition to its :main framework and driving mechanism, the machine may be said to comprise enerally a receiving magazineprovided wit mechanism for separating l devices, to a :stacker from Whic i they Will be finally deet.v

the foremost envelop from the pack and prfesentino it to the carrier, a carrier mechanism for taking each envelop 1n `turn from the magazine and transferring it past the stamp completes thesealing, a stamp affixing mec anism, including means for feeding a `affixing mechanism to the stacker which also sheet of stamps'to a plunger or equivalent i device by which a single stamp is detached from' the sheet and applied to each envelop as it is presented by the carrier, a stacker which bunches the sealed ,and stam ed envelops, and devices arrangedalong tii of movement of the envelops for moistening their faces -preparatory-'to receiving the stamps, and for moistening, and turning down the envelo flaps preparator to their being sealed b the stacker. For t e sake of clearness in tie following detailed descripe path 7 end with a rigidly attached tion theses several mechanisms, With the exce tion ofthe moistenin devices, which are di cult to se egate from the adjacent mechanisms, wi betaken up and disposed of in the indicated order as nearly as practicable. A

The main frame of the machine comprises a' base plate A herein shown as substantially rectangular in shape, which is sup orted at its corners `by suitable legs Al A2 3 an/d A4. A main driving shaftB journaled in bracket bearings a and al that 'depend from the under si( e of thebase plate, extends horizontally from beneath the plate from front to rear and is provided at its rear HV Wheel B1 having a crank handle b by which the shaft may be rotated in one direction, its reverse rotation being vprevented by a ratchet wheel R and awl 1. Suitable connections for rotatin t e shaft from a motor or from any availab e source of` power may also conveniently be rovided but are not illustrated herein. The driving shaft is operatively connected with the several mechanisms of the machine in a manner hereinafter fully described, and serves to actuate the same in proper relative order.

l signed to .Magazinarfhe magazine and attendant mechanism for separating the. envelops may be described as follows: C designates a receiving table that rojects forwardly, and with a slight angle aterally, lfrom the right hand front corner shown in Fi 1 and 8. The width of the table is mage great enough to permit the longest envelop for which t ie machine is deextend transversely across it between the side walls c and c1, made of any desired length and capable of receiving a large number of envelops when the latter are set on edge in the manner illustrated. The envelops E are designed to be continually ressed forward on the table C by a suitab e presser C1, which in this instance consists of an angle plate having a vertical wall c5 that engages the envelops and 4a horizontal base c3 that rests and slides on the table C. This angle plate is maintained under a constant tendency to move inwardly by cords C2 which are trained over pulleys ,c4 and carry weights C3 at their deending ends, said cords being made fast to rackets c5 which project laterally from the end walls ce of the angle plate through slots c7 in 4the side walls of .the table (Figs. l and 3).`

The path of movement of the envelops between the magazine and the stacker extends transversely across the machine from right to left and .is indicated in the drawings by a channel or groove A5 which is shown conspicuously in Fig. 7. The back side of this c annel consists of a ledge a? which projects slightly above the surface of the base plateof the base plate A, as.

and it may bev and is shown as extending continuously a1- mostthe'entire, length from right to` left of the plate.- The front side of the channel consists of a similar ledge a4 parallel to the ledge a3 but extending only from the inner side of the magazine to the inner side of the stacker, as lshown in Fig. 7, this ledge being cut away or discontinued in front of the magazine an stacker to permit the envelops tofbe moved horizontally into and out of the channel or groove. The middle portion of this channel A5 is herein -shown as extending across or spanning the irregular opening or aperture a5 in the base plate (as better shown in Fig. 7), and for convenience in manufacture this portion of the channel is made in this instance in a separate piece from the base plate, as indicated in section in Fig. 6, but it will be understood that this is an immaterial detail referred to only for the purpose of enabling the drawings to be clearly interpreted. The angular arran ement of the receiving table C is purpose y desi ned to make the envelops E approach t e channel or path A5 with their outer ends foremost, as shown in Figs. l and S-(the term foremost'being here used with reference to the direction of motion of the package of envelops as they are fed along in the magazine).

The pressure of tohe presser Cl forces the ackage forward until the outer end of the` oremost envelop is stopped by the contact of its lower edge or corner with the rear ledge a of said channel A5 and by the contact of its ipper 4corner with the face c5 of a stop plate 4 vwhich is herein shown as fastened to the base by bolts c",

with the angle of the approaching envelo s and with its inner edge c the ledge a, as shown in Fig. end of the foremost envelo ously stopped by anarrow ri or ledge on the inner Wall c of the receiving table. This stop c1 is ju'st large enough to normally check the advance of the envelops at this end without preventing the end of the foremost envelop from being readily pulled past it by the separator, presentlyy to. be described, and which operates to swin the foremost envelo about its outer en( as a pivotal point unti it stands square with the machine and in line with its path of movement or channel A5. In their advance `along the receivin table the envelops in the magazine are guide at their inner ends by the inner wall c of the receiving table, and at their outer ends by a guide plate C5 which is herein shown as secured to the face c8 of the stop plate C4 by screws c Fig. 23'. Conveniently also and for the purpose of 'providing for envelops of different lengths this guide plateis made adjustable, in this instance by passing the fastening screws c11 through slots c12 of the plate. The guide plate is set at a distance from the irectly above the ront face of 8. The inner is simultaneico j inner Wall c of the receiving table just equal to the length of the envelops to be operated on, and its particular function is to keep thethis stop from being swung forward with the foremost envelop when the-latter is caught by the separator. When the guide plate C4 is made separate from the outer wall c1 of the which is pivoted at d receiving table, as thus herein shown, said outer wall has no important function, and may conveniently be omitted to enable the envelope to be more easily introduced to the ma azme.

he form of separator herein shown7 and which is Adeemed to be practically the most advantageous for use in this connection, isa

vacuum device consisting of a sucker disk D movably mounted to swing toward and from the package of envelopsin the magazine and connected by la tube d with any suitable vacuum pump or chamber D1 herein shown as convenient y lmounted at the front of the machine beneath a base plate and near the left side thereof, as better shown in Fig. 2. The sucker disk is in this instance shown as conveniently mounted at the free end of a swinging arm D2 which is pivoted on a boss d1 that rises from the base plate at a point just outside the guide late C5 and substantially in line with the cliannel A5. This arm is given a to and fro motion with each revolution of the drive shaft B by means of a cam plate D3 mounted on guide rods dzxand cl3 that extend transversely beneath the base plate supported in depending brackets d4 and d5 thereof (Figs. 2, 7, and 11). Said cam plate is herein shown as reci rocated by a lever D4 Ibeneath the rear edge of the base lplate and has its free end connected with the cam plate by a link D5. Said lever is connected between its ends With a pitman Bl which is provided at its inner end with a circumferential strap b* that incloses an eccentric b2 on the drive shaft B (Figs. 2, 3 and 6). The. cam plate is cut away on its upper surface to afford a loop shaped path of movement for 'a depending pin dl on the sucker arm D2, the center of said loop being left in the shape of an irregular block d8, as shown in Fig. 11. At the left of this center block the path cut away on its front side extends inwardly and rearwardly at an angle and is closed by a latch D*i pivoted in a convenient recess of said center block d of the loop so that the rear face of said latch is substantially continuous with the rear face of said center block.

A spring d is applied to the latch to normally maintain it closed7 said spring being herein shown as conveniently located on the under side of the cam plate and as acting on a pin Z9 which projects downwardly from the latch through a slot d in the plate. The sucker arm is constantly pressed forward b a spring D7 mounted on a guide rod D8 whic is pivoted at 1,12 to the sucker arm and which extends at itsgopposite end through a guide aperture in the end of a guide pin (1" that projects from the plate (24 (see Fig. 8). As the .'-ain plate moves from right to left the pin d7 slides along the back side of the latch and center block andprevents the sucker arm `r from moving forward under the pressure ofi; the spring D7, but as the right end of the cen-JI ter block passes beyond the pin said spring operates to throw the sucker arm forward and ress the sucker against the foremost enve op in the magazine. The sucker itself is desirably,1na le of flaring bell shape (Fig.

8), and is composed of rubber or other elastic 'and yielding materialv so that it Will readily conform to and`fit closely against the surface of the envelop even though the latter is Y lmade somewhat irregular by the matter inclosed within the envelop, and the suction of the vacuum causes it tof-adhere with suiiicient tenacityv todraw the envelop along with it when the sucker'arni is swung back. This occurs in the movement of the cam lplate from left to right as the pin is forced through the inwardly and rearwardly in- ,clined path at the left end of the center block d", the `latch DG springing shut behind the pin after being forced open by the latter near the extremity of the movement, so that as the cam late starts again to move from right to left the pin must pass again along its back side and re eat the cycle.

The face of t e sucker when in Iits rearmost position occupies substantially the same vertical plane as the forward edge of the ledge a which marks the rear side of the transverse path of movement A5 of the envelop, and the envelop (Fig. 8) is conse quently swung around by the action of the sucker until it stands directly in said path of movement and is in position to be seized by the jaws F F1 of the carrier mechanism presently to be described. As soon as the envelop has reached this osition the vacuum is broken by anysuitab e means and the envelop released from the sucker which then remains idle until this envlo is removed by the carrier jaws, after whic it is immediately again swung forward' to Vengage the succeeding envelop.A As the foremost envelop is thus carried forward by'thevvacuum separator the succeeding envelops Iwill be pushed forward slightly by the presser C1 but will be prevented from following the first envelop by the projecting rib c1", on the inner side wall c of the receiving table until it in turn is engaged and drawn forward by the vacuum separator in the next succeeding movement of the latter. The vacuum pump D1 is herein shown as comprising simply a cylinder having a piston D" the piston rod dl ofwhich is secured to a reciprocating carrier plate G upon which the jaws F F1 are mounted (Fig. v2). The pump 1s without l valves and its only port, except the connecparts just tion at vthe left end of the cylinder for the suction ,pipe d, is an aperture ZM-near the right hand end of the cylinder which'is uncovered vby the piston to break the vacuum at the end of its suction movement and at vthe instant at which the envelop is seized by the jaws. Fig. 8 shows the positions of the after the vacuum has been broken and the envelop seized by the aws as above stated. I

The-mdistening of the face of each envelop preparatory to receiving the stamp is desi ned in this improvement to be accom.-

r plished before they envelop vis separated from ence with the sucker, as shown in Fig. 2, but

the twoarms are connected to move simultaneously by a pm dl5 which projects upwardljv from the sucker arm through an aperture h1 in a rearwardly projecting flange h2 of the arm H. By reason of this connection the moistener 'arm is swung forward by the sucker arm and again retracted with each i movement of the latter, and the pad Hl isr` consequently brought into contact with the face of the envelop simultaneously with the engagement ofthe sucker therewith. OW- ing, however, to the relative arrangement of the pivotal points of thetwo arms Aand to their .relative lengths and the nature of the connectionbetween them, the moistening pad, which is normally arranged to stand sli litly back of the path A5 of the erivelops, wil be moved through a somewhat greater distance and at a correspondingly higher rate of speed than t-he sucker both in its for- -ward' and return movement, and after moistening the face of the envelop at the moment of the engagement of the sucker therewith will immediately be retracted from the eni' velop as the latter is swung around by the sucker and will ystand clear of it when it reaches said path of movement A5. In this manner all danger that they moistener may interfere with the action of the vacuum sepa rator isobviated, and the immediate retraction of the moistenerfrom the envelop tendsV to prevent an excess of moisture from trickling down the face of the envelop below the spot i machine immediatel pihf'oted at h yto the front of the stopl Awhich is intentionally wetted. Desirably,

and as herein shown, this spot will be at the upper right hand corner of the face of the envelop so that the stamps when a plied will occupy this customary position. ater is shown as supplied to the pad H1 from a perforated block H2 which 'is supported in a stationary position just above the rearmost position of the pad by being secured to the up-A per-front face of a thin plate h5 that is ri idly secured to the back of a guide plateil by screws h4 or otherwise (see Figs. 20 and 22).' This guide plate extendstransversely of the after more particularly described in connection with lthe stamp vafiixing mechanism.

4 -above and at the back side of the path or c annel A5 and is herein- Water channels or perforations h5 (Fig. 21) are formed in the block H2 and connected by tubes h5 with a supplyfunnel H3 herein shown -as mounted on the inner u perend of the stop plate C4. Water may e dropped into this funnel'from any suitable source of su ply, in .this instance afforded by a tank H4 also mounted on the plate C4 and having a cock k7 arranged to discharge into saidfunnel. To carry 0H the excess of water thus applied the late f3 which supports the perforated bloei() H2 also carries at its lower end below the moistener ad H1 a drip basin H5 arranged to catclli any water which may -run down the plate h3 or drip from the pad when in its rearmost position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 22. As afurther improvement, and

rfor the purpose of catching any water which may drip from the pad when swung forward away from the late h5 a rearwardly projecting trou h'H" is astened to the moistener arm low the pad and projects rearwardly just in said plate h5, its

through an aperture h5 length bein made somewhat greater than the throw o the moistener arm so that even in the foremost position of the latter this H5 in trough will extend .back .over the basin position to' discharge .into Ithe latter. The water which collects in said basin H5 is carenvelop is seized between the jawsl by its ,lower left hand corner (looking from the front of the machine) carried to the stamp aiiixing 'ried offl through a vtube 71, to any suitable e stampai'iixing mechanism to the mechanism, and then released while the jaws return for the succeeding envelop. In the Second movement the jaws, then closed u on and advancing with said succeeding enve op, engage the right hand end of the first envelop and push it along past the stamp aiiixing mechanism to the stacker. The mechanism which accomplishes thispaction may be described as follows: G designates a carrier late mounted to reciprocate on transverse orizontal guide rods g and gl that are supported beneath the base plate in depending rackets a and a7 thereo These brackets i, and guide rods are well shown in Fig. 2, eX-

' oruide bars g2 enough to permit cept that the right hand'end of the upper guide rod gis concealed in this view by the guide-rod alz of the cani plate D3 which stands infront of it and which, being herein shown as of the same diameter and as at exactly the same distance below the base plate, appears practically coincident with it in this view. Said carrier plate is formed with two vertical. and g3 (Fig. 12) which embrace between them the crank pin b3 of a crankB3 carried on the front end of the main drive shaft B' (Fig. 2) so `that as said shaft is ro-v tated the carrier plate is reciprocated to and fro on its guide rods g 'g1 once with each revolution. Near the upper end of the left hand vertical guide bar g3 the carrier plate is provided with a bracket arm g4 which extends forwardly just beneath the channel bar A5,

and the jaws F F1 are movably mounted on this bracket arm by means of bolts g5 which project /throuh horizontal slots g and g?, respectively, ig. 15a) in the bases f and f1 of said jaws, the jaws themselves being supported above the channel A5 by means of vertical arms f2 and f3 which project upwardly from the bases ff 1 on opposite sides ofsaid channel. j v

The jaws tend at all times to'sliut together by reason of a spring F2 (Fig. G) which is connected at its opposite ends toprojecting ins f4 andf5 on their bases ffl, but can be field separated by latcliing bolt/l1` 3 which is arranged to reciprocate transversely through the arin g4 of the carrier plate just beneath the bases of the jawsyand is provided with a head f adapted to enter betweenthe abutting shoulders (f13 and f 14) of said bases. (Figs. 13 and 14). A springf7 provided on this latching bolt between the arm g4 and an enlargement or teef on the right hand extremity of the bolt tends to normally force its head jf between the bases f f 1, but the shape of the parts is such that if said bolt is once shifted to withdraw its head f from between said basesf1 of the jaws and ermit the latter to close it will remain thus s iifted and the jaws will remain closed Vuntil they are forcibly separated-to permit the head of the bolt to again spring in between their bases. The separation of the jaws in this manner ac.- complished near the left hand end of the movement of the carrier plate by a wedge F4 (Figs. 12 and 15) that in this instance is se'- cured to the under side of the channel bar A5, the point of the wedge being directed to the right so that it will enter between the abutting ede'es of the bases f f 1 of the jaws above the latcthing bolt F3 and force them apart' far the head of the bolt to enter between them. On the the shifting of the latching jaws to close is accomplished at the extreme right hand end of the movement of the carrier plate by a stop F5-which iii this instance takes the form of an adjustable screw mounted in the rearwardly projectin end j of a stationary bracket F6 which dgepends from the base plate of the machine7 as shown in Figs. 2 and 14. In the latter figure the full lines show the positions of the jaws after the bolt has been pressed back by the stop F 5 to permit them to close, while the dotted lines indicate the open position of the jaws just' previous and before the carrier quite reachesthe tripping point.

The o en jaws approach the magazine just as the oremostenvelop 'is swunrf into line with the channel A5 the envelop enters between them. The jaws are then tripped by the contact of the stop F5 with the end of the latching bolt F3' and instantly close upon the envelop under the tension of the spring F2. This tripping of the jaws Aoccurs simultaneously with the breaking of the vacuum and consequent releasing of the envelop by the sucker, and the envelop is thus left free to be carried forward with the jaws along the channel A5 with the left hand stroke of the carrier plate immediately following. As the latter approaches the left end of its movement the jaws are opened by the wedge F4 and the envelop is released ,and remains stationary while thev jaws return for the succeeding envelop, the position of the first envelop at this time being substantially as illustrated in Fig. 12, in which it is shown as having been moved through a distance slightly greater than its length so that its right hand margin e stands in a position a short the left hand margin el of the succeedingenvelolp; or, in other words, a short distance to the eft of the position occupied by its own left hand margin before it was moved by the jaws. The latter now close upon the succeeding lenvelop and behind the preceding envelop, and in the next left hand stroke of the carrier move both envelope forward through a distance nearly equal to the stroke other hand, bolt to permit the 'of the carrier or until the jaws are again separated by the wedge. To insure a sufficient engagement of the aws with thel rear margin of the preceding en velop, said ji'ws are herein shown as provided with a. pair off outwardly projecting sheet metal clips f1, the outer margins f of which may bent forward to loosely-` iur-,lose the envelop laterally. The faces of the jaws are. furthermore desirably lined with rubber or other suit-able substance as shcwii at f12 in Fig, S. The right hand end of the shown as beveled or the envelops should cieiitly to cause.

pointed so that in case*i stick together sufi'ithe vacuum separator to so that the eft end of conveniently be front jaw is also I 105 distance to the left o 1 draw more than one envelop forward this jaw would tend to penetrate between and separate them. The shaping of the jaw in this manner tends also to prevent the envelop from being crumpled up by the jaw in case it should not have been carried forward far enough by 'the separator to roperly enter between the jaws without stri ring them.

In the approved construction shown the fla s of the envelo s are moistened by a suitab e device locate immediately to the left of the magazine and in front of the channel A5, and consisting in this instance of a moistening roller J which is .mounted to rotate freely within a 'small water tank or pan J1 that rests u on a standard J 2 which rises from the base p ate A. The top of the roller is arranged Y substantially on a level with the upper edges of the envelops in the magazine, and said envelops are purposely arranged' with their flaps extending )ackwardsi'n a substantially horizontal position at right angles to their body portion and overlapping each other, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The forward movement by which theforemost envelop is separated from the pack is not greatenough to disengage its flap from the other envelops, and as this eiivelop'is carried along-by the jaws its flap will consequently he carried along also ina horizontal position so that its guniined under edge will be drawn across thc moisteningyrollel J. AAn u wardly and inwardly projecting guard j is urthermore prol vided at the right of the roller to direct the flap properly across the top of the latter see".A

Figs. l and 2). After being thus nioistened the flap is turned down against the back of the envelop in the continued movement of the carrier, andl by means of a d eflecting plate J 3, which is herein shown as secured by screws y" to the front face of the guide plate l above the path of the envelop. The right end of said deflecting plate extends in a tapering its left end the doliecting plate is provided with a depending flange js which extends rearwardly and inwardly on an angle and at the same time gradually increasing in depth until at a point j* in the vicinity of the stamp afl'Xing mechanism it forins a vertically depending guide located so close to the guide plate I that in passing between them the envelop will have its ap folded down close against its back ready to adhere thereto by reason of the already m'oistencd gum surface.

Stamp (wiring mechanism.---'l`he stamp aflixing mechanism, as hereinafter described. includes a plunger or clamp device for separating the individual stamps from the sheet and applying them iii turn to the moistened faces of the envelops, and a device for feeding a sheet of stamps to the plunger as required., Referring first to the plunger mechanism ,"A" designates a standard (Figs.

tongue to a point nearly half way' across the magazine, as shown 'in Fig. 2. Ata

'l and 6) rigidly secured to the base late hind the path of movement A5 of the. en-

cut out to form guides Within which a plunger K isinounted to reciprocate from front to rear or transversely to the path of envelop movement. .A head or die K1 (Fig. 6) in ade of the exact size and sha e of the stamp to he detached is secured to t e forward end of the plunger and when the plunger is retracted stands with its front face a short distance behind the back of the guide plate I heretofore referred to. Mounted in said guide plate directly opposite the die isa die plate K2 having an a )erture just large enough to exactly fit the plunger, and which registers with a corresponding aperture k in the guide plate, so that when the plunger is projected the die will be forced through the die and guide plates and project into the path of movement of the envelop. a standard (Figs. 2 and 6) that is rigidly .ard A and on the opposite side of the path .of movement of the envelops, and that is ger K and against which the head or die of the plunger is designed to abut, said platen being desirably and herein shown as cushioned so as to afford a yielding resistance to --within the platen and heroin shown as surrounding the sliding bolt Z1 which retains the platen inovabl y within its socket in the standard A7. .Suitable means are provided for reciprocating the plungerv once with each revolution of the drive shaft, consisting in this instance of a projecting lever K3' and a retracting spring K4. The former is made in the form of a. bell crank pivoted at k1 to the base plate, as better shown in Fig. 7, and having a downwardly projecting rear end /rg adapted to be struck and oscillated by an arm B4 on the drive shaft. The retracting spring K* for the plunger is herein shown as applied beneath the latter and within its supporting standard A", said spring being herein shown as placed loosely upon a guide holt lc which projects freely through an a )erture in the depending rear end 7c ofthe plunger and the head of which abuts on the inner face of the overhanging front end at of said standard Af'. An upwardly projecting bracket As located immediately behind the plunger engaging end of the lever K3 serves to limit the rearward movement of the lever and prevents the spring from forcing the plunger back too far.

'lhe guide plate Al is supported in position bv both the standards A and A7, it'being l fastened at its lower edge byscrews t to the joverhanging liront end of the former, as

velops, the upper part of said standard beingreccssed in its upper portion to support a. platen li arranged directly opposite the plun- '.tlie plunger by means of a spring l inserted' aboutv midway of the length thereof an be- A7 designates secured to the base plate in front of the standj ture applied by above this rib and forming m effect a conthe number screws t1 to the rearwardly projecting top a? ofthe latter, as shown in Figs. 1 a-nd 6. lie. 6 also shows in section a small horizontal rib i2 which projects from the face of the guide plate I just above the plunger aperture lr. and which may conveniently consist of a wire soldered to the face of the guideplate, its object being mcrelyto keep the face of the envelop from rubbing against the guide plate so as to spread and dissipate the moisthe pad ll. Immediately tinuation of the top of the flap dellecting late J there is also shown a. horizontal guide edge i3 projecting from the face ofthe guide plate I and serving to `keep the envelops from being raised or forced up above their normal path of movemen In the operation of the machine thestamps will be fed downwardly to the plunger between the guide plate I and a stripper plate ,K5 which is fastened by screws 'fi to the overhanging front portion a8 of the standard A, as better shownin Figs. 1 and 6. The body portion of this plate is arranged parallel to and immediately behind the guide plate I and is provided with an aperture just fitti-ng the plunger die and through which the latter reciprocates. The forward movement or projecting of the plunger is timed to occur l just after the envelop is released from the jaws at the left end of their movement, and the plunger and die are loi ated directlyoppo'- site to the wetted spot at the upper right hand corner of the face of the envelop in the position occupied by the latter when thus released. In its forwardmovement the plunger die cuts a stamp from the sheetv fed to it against the edges of the die plate and carries the stamp forward against the wetted corner of the envelop to which it at once adheres under the pressure of the die as opposed by the spring platen L` which supports ,the back of the envelop against the impact of the die.

`The devices' herein shown for feeding stamps to the plunger comprise a stamp carriage M mounted to reciprocate transversely 0f the machine upon guide rods m and m1 that are supported at their ends in the upwardly projecting brackets al? am and a a, respectively, rising from the base plate A (Figs. 1 and 3). The movement of this carriage in each direction is designed to be accomplished in a Vsuccession of steps each equal in length to the width of a stamp, and

fective movement of the carriage in each direction is normally oneless than the number of stamps in each row of the sheet of stamps; t'. e., where the ordinary U. S. Government sheets of oneV hundred stamps arranged in ten rows of ten stamps each are used the number of steps constituting the effective carriage movement in each direction will be nine. In the presentimprovements this step by step of steps comprising the total ef-V reciprocation of the carriage is accomplished by a gear segment M' rotate by intermitting movements between opposing parallel racks M2 and M3 on the carriage, the distance between the pitch line of the racks being diameter of the gear segment, so that in the revolution of the latter it will engage each of the racks in alternation. 'Said segment is herein shown as rigidly fastened to the upper cndof a vertical shaft m2 which is journaled at a. in the base plate and at a in a rearwardly projecting lug of the plunger supporting standard A (see Figs. 3, 6 and 7). To the lower end of this shaft is secured a ratchet ratchet wheel. This ratchet arm is oscila lated once in each revolution of the drive shaft by suitable connections therewith consisting in this instance of a. pin t which projects from the stacker operating pitman Bf through a slot m4 in the depending extremity of said ratchet arm M5 (Figs. 2 and 5), said pitman being herein shown as pivotl ally secured at its inner end to thc strap b1 that incloses the eccentric b2 heretofore dethe Vacuum separator. The teeth of the ratchet wheel are herein shown as so shaped that said wheel, and consequently the gear segment, are moved in the same direction as the hands of a watch, looking at the parts from above, and a reverse rotation is prevented by a spring pressed sto p pawl m (Fig. 7). This direction of rotation of the gear segment is unimportant eXcept'as considered in connection with the location of two inwardly projecting abutments M and M7 that are rigidly fixed on the racks M2 and Mg at their opposite ends Fig. 1. These abutments are designed to secure the positive and exact engagement of the segment with the racks at the beginning of the carriage movement in each direction, and each is struck in turn by the forward end of the segment as the latter comes into mesh with that rack to which it is affixed. rThus when the direction of'rotation of the segment is right handed in i plan view, as stated, the abutment M of the front rack M2 is located at the left end of the latter, and the contact of the front end of the segment with this abutment will occur when the carriage is at the extreme right end of its movement, and will mark the beginning of 'l its return movement to the left. The abutment M7 of the rear rack, on the other hand, is located at the right end of the rack, and the contact of the front end of the segment with this abutment will occur when the cart riage is at the extreme left end of its movei ment and will mark the beginning of the l j l i i which is arranged to,

dog m adapted to engage the teeth of the exactly equal to the pitch wheel M4 which is actuated intermittingly by scribed as operatmg thc cam plate lever l)4 of ice lili) movement of the carriage to the right. In

other words, each abutment acts in effect as an enlarged first tooth'by which its rack is brought intocorrect mesh with the segment at exactly the right point in each revolution.

The pitch circumference of the segment is lmade equal in length to twice the length of the effective carriage movement plus twice the length of one step 1n such movement; z. e., is made in the present instance equal in length to twenty times the width of one stamp, while the length of the segment measured on its pitch circumference is theoriage movement.

portionmg lsto rovide for two ldle steps 1n retically made just e ual to the effective car- 'Ighe object of this prothe rotation of t e segment, one at each end ofthe throw of the carriage, during which the carriage will remain stationary `after the segment has become disengaged from one rack and before it engages' the other rack.,

this dwell of the carriage at each end ofvitsl throw being designed to permit the feeding down of a succeeding row of stamps to the` the opposite side sov as to start the carriage back at exactly the right instant; or, in other words, owing to the necessity of providing in practice for the bringing of the segment into and out of mesh with the racks before and afterv its effective actuating effort thereon, said segment is made slightly longer than the theoretically necessry length yabove stated by the addition of one or two extra teeth.

These' teeth still remain in mesh with the' rack after the segment has commenced its theoretically idle impulse or step and before they become disengaged impart to 'the carriage a slight'idle movement beyond the limits of its necessary movement, and to compensate for this the abutments M and M7 are so located that before the close of this theoretically idle impulse or step of the segment its front end 1s brought into contact with..the adjacent abutment and moves the carriage -back to the position which it occupied at the close of the receding impulse of the segment. This slig t idle movement to and fro of the carriage beyond its theoretical limit of movement takes place while the succeeding row of stamps is being fed to the plunger and between the strokes of the latter, so that so feras the actionof the ilunger on the stamps is concerned it' may Ibe utterly neglected, the effect being the same as thou hl the carriage actually stayed at a stanrfstill during the-entire idle `impulse of the segment. I

As herein' shown, an indicator M8 secured to the rear guide rod M1 serves to indicate the position of the carriage at the different stages of its movement upon a scale bar m7 carried by the carriage. This scale bar is marked with lines ms corresponding to the points at which the cerria e is held stationary while the stamp is (etached by the plunger, said lines being numbered-,from 1 to 10, as shown in Fi 1. The position 'of tlie carriage shown in 't `s view is at the extreme left handlimit of its actual movement, and it will be noticed that the indicator M8 points to a place on the bar m7 slightly to the right of line 1. This distance between the point of the indicator. and line 1 represents the idle' movement of the carriage before referred to, and it will be understood that this movement occurs after the first dwell of the carriage at line 1 during which the last stamp of the row is affixed by the plunger, and that a reverse movementsulficlent to bring line 1 back to the point of the indicator occurs before the next dwell of the carriage during which the rst stam of the succeeding row is detached b the p unger. To a prise the operator of t e direction in whicy the car- .riage was moving prior to its being stopped at any time, anot er indicator M1 (Figs. 1 and 4) is provided in the form of a sliding pin extending through an aperture in the right hand side bar m? of the carriage just above the rear guide bar m1. Stationary stops m and m are arranged at the limits of the movement of this side bar and are adapted l to strike the ends of the pin in turn so as to move it endwise in its a erture or socket and cause it to project in t e opposite direction to the stop which it has thus last engaged. As herein shown, these stops are made in thel form of adjustable screws mounted, respectively, in the indicator lug M and in the cor- A,

ner standard c at the right side of the Ina-- chine. As the carriage a proaches the limits of its movement tothe le t the left end of the pin M" strikes the screw m1", causing its 'right end to project, as shown in Fig. 1, thus indicating that the direction of movement of the carriage during the next series of impulses Will be to the right. When the carriage reaches the right hand end of itsmovement the pin will be shifted so that its left end will project and indicate that the followlinlgr movement of the carriage will be to the To prevent accidental displacement of the carriage at thelimits of its movement and during the times in which the geared'segment is passing from one rack to the other and is not in mesh with either, automatic locking devices are herein shown as provided, consisting in this instance of an upwardly 15 ment from one rack andthe'contact ofthe tion t erewith a guide' opening or s out sprin pressed` pin M1o carried by an Aup- (Figs. 2-6). Secured on this shaft to rotate ward y rojectmg bracket m12 located at the therewith are one or more serrated feed rear of t e base p ate about midway between wheels N1, the lower edges of which are arthe ends thereof (see Fig. 4). v'lhe upper ran ed to barely clear the surface of astamp 5 end of said pin impinges on the lower 'side of tab? Vthe scale bar m7 of the carriage and is adapted carriage, as shown in Fig. 6, this tab e being to be forced upwardly by its `spring m13 omitted from Fig. 1 to better show the carthrough apertures m located in the scale riage actuating mechanism. At its front.

bar at points which are brought opposite the edge this table terminates ina lcurved guide eN2 which is fastened [to the to of the 70 *l pin when the carriage reaches the l1mit of its lip nl whichextends downwardly to a point 75` l movement in either direction.. The pin re'-4 immediately above and in front of the stripmains in engagement with the holes only per plate K5, and an upper guide plate nz of during the small intervalelapsing between generally similar curvature is fastened on the Athe disengaging of the last tooth of the segcarria e just above this lip to form in connec- Afront end of the segment with the abutment adapted to strip the sheet of stamps om 80 vof the other rack, and is .withdrawn in time the'serrated'feed wheels as it is fed forward to permit the starting back of the carriage by thereby an'd direct them downwardly in a cam bfn the peri hery of the flywheel B1 front of the plunger. A suitable mechanismV vwhich engages at t e pro r moment the is pgrovided to'give the shaft N a rotary img5 downwardly projecting en of a bell crank e at the opposite limits of the carriage lever m15, the other end of which s connected movement,4 comprising, as herein shown, a

with the lower end of the pin.. Normally the ratchet wheel M adapted for actuation by contact ofthe pin with the underside of the the ratchet pawl n3 off'an oscillating arm n scale bar holds the in depressed and main- .which ispivotally mounted on the shaft N 90 4tains the lower en of t e bellV crank fari adjacentto said ratchet .wheel (Fig. 5). To

enough from the periphery of the flyl wheel oscillate this arm a lever' N is ivotedat. 11,5

to escape contact with the cam, but when at to/ the frame of the carria e' an provided at the limits of the carriage movement thepin l its forward end with a 'ork n which em- '3-0 is forced upwardlynthrough one of the holes braces a wrist pin .nlfprojecting from the g5 i m in said bar by the pressure. of its spring iscillatin arm. Its rearfend is provided, in

m13 the lower end of the bell crank is thereby /turn,-Wit ja wrist pin ns which is similarly swung in close to .the fly wheel where it re fembraced by the forked front end of a mains until struck by the advancing end of second lever N5 that is pivoted to the car- 35V the ,cam in the next approach of the latter. riage at n". directly back of the Vpivotal oint 100 v The interval during which the carriage is nof the front lever. The rear end o this locked will thus obviously be determined second lever is engagd -bya forwardly pro- I `bythe distance allowed 'betweenfthe advancjecting radial arm o a rock shaft 'N'l j, ingl endv of the c am and the lower end of the that 1s mounted transversely at therear of be crank at'the moment the pin springs the carriage in bearings n10 (Fig. 1). .Down- 105 A.into locking engagement with the carriage, wardlyprojecting pins Nare rigidly secured which distance is herein shown as approXito this rock shaft near its ends andata dismately Aone-eighth of the circumference-of tance apart substantiallyequal to the efl'ectthe fly wheel so that the length of said interive carriage movement, said ins bem hereln val isin this'instance approximately equal shown as located atpoints su stantia yoppo- 116 to :a quarterrevolution of the drive shaft. site to the abutmentsMandMlof the carria e The length of the cam must be made great racks.` These pins are struck 1n turn, as t e venough to maintain-- the p in -retracted 'until carriage reachesthe limits of its movement A the starting of the carriage again moves the by the oppositeends of a double cam ,which A adjacent a rture in the scale `bar out of 4is 1'1g1dly mounted on the shaft'm2 that car- 115' 1 Aregister' Wit the pin, but is otherwise immaries the geared segment, Aand the rock shaft terial. The racks M and M3 of the carriage is thereby oscillated so as to throw its radial are herein. shown as conveniently made ad arm4 Ne downward, this movement being .justable therein, being secured in Athis* i-ntransmitted through the levers N 5 and N 4 to stance by screws fm which ass through the ratchet arm 'n which is also oscillated 120v longitudinal slots m" in the Vrac adjusting .downward and the awl n3 of which actson screws m. bein vfurthermore herein shown the ratchet wheel 3- to'impart to the shaft as provided at tlgieends of the racks to facili- N arotaryimpulse s uflicient to cause a peri phtate their adjustment and provide ositive eralmovement of the serrated feed wheels '50- abutments to resist .the end thrust t ereon. equalfin length to the length of one stamp 125 v In the present im rovements the stamps and in aforward d1rect1on at their lower are designed to Vbe fe forward on the carriage ed es. v

b a feed mechanism constructed. as follows;` he idle return movement ofthe ratchet Ny designates a shaft mountedV transverselyv `and itsl connected actuating lever 1s shown as 35 lof the carriage in bearings 1t at its front end. "accomplishedby a spring N 1 which depends 130 

